While they have no statistics yet, the County of Haliburton’s tourism department says it was “quite a good summer” for industry businesses and operators.

Manager of tourism, Angelica Ingram, gave her third quarter report to councillors last Wednesday.

She told them her department had done a lot of marketing in 2025, especially in the spring and summer.

“A lot of the data we were seeing was showing there were some real shifts in travel this year with the political climate …there was a lot of appetite and desire for Canadians to stay in Canada and from other travellers from other
countries looking at Canada as a new option for travel, so we wanted to take advantage of that.”

Without getting into specifics, she was referencing how some Canadians, and residents of other countries, are
avoiding travelling to the U.S. under president Donald Trump.

“We did a lot of marketing to Canadians, to some new markets, and we’re starting to see some results of that.
We think it was quite a good summer in terms of business and travellers to the area. We don’t have hard data yet, but anecdotally we have heard some very good things from a lot of our tourism businesses and operators and we’re
hoping this continues throughout the fall and winter and into next year,” Ingram said.

She added they had more hits on the My Haliburton Highlands website. In July, the website reached 36,200
views, and in August, 35,300, an increase of 31.5 per cent over the same months last year.

While the growth was partly driven by the integration of the Hike Haliburton Festival into the site, which generated
more than 3,100 page views, Ingram said that, even without the addition, traffic rose by 19.2 per cent.

“Google Analytics shows 18,000 active users in August, with 17,000 of those being new visitors.”

The most visited pages highlight what attracts visitors to the region, with the Home page, What’s Happening, Hike
Haliburton, Hiking Trails, and Live Entertainment leading in views.

“Traffic sources also show that the site is reaching beyond the County, with the majority of users coming from organic Google searches (12,000 sessions), followed by direct visits (7,600), County of Haliburton referrals (1,000), and social media (Facebook referrals at 451).

“These results confirm that the website is performing as a central tourism tool, both engaging new audiences
and directing them to key seasonal experiences in the Haliburton Highlands.”

Looking ahead to 2026, staff are already working on furthering the marketing strategy by creating a campaign that promotes shoulder season tourism, as well as looking at ways to improve the functionality of the website.

Ingram added they are working with a lot of different partners into next year, including hosting some workshops with the Haliburton County Development Corporation, and some cross promotion with different cultural institutions in the area, on some new ideas for next year.

The manager of tourism told council her department was also “really thrilled with how our fall Hike Haliburton
Festival, Sept. 18-21, went. We were able to grow the festival with a grant we got and through some additional
planning and organizing that Eric (Casper) and I and the team did.” They got a $25,000 grant from the federal government. She said they had more than 1,870 participants, in 44 guided hikes. Further, more than 85 volunteers leant a hand.

Another highlight was the annual business summit Sept. 23, for which Ingram reported, “we had a good turnout of
speakers and participants and we got some good feedback on how we can evolve that event going forward next year
and we’re hoping to continue that as well.” She noted 40 people attended.

Highlands East residents, and organizations such as the Paudash Lake Conservation Association (PLCA) and the Crowe Valley Conservation Authority, have reiterated their concerns about the Granite Shores development on Centre Lake – even though the proponent has made more changes to its original plans.

Highlands East held a public meeting Oct. 7 on a proposed official plan and zoning bylaw amendment.

Municipal planner Chris Jones said Granite Shores wants to build a subdivision on 115 hectares of the 431 hectares owned. The land abuts a 200-foot Crown Reserve, with the first 66-feet an original shore road allowance established prior to the reserve.

The shoreline has been arguably the most contentious issue to date. Highlands East council did not support the disposition of the Crown Reserve in 2021. It also voted not to close and convey an unopened road allowance in 2024.

Jones said the revised plan calls for 18 lots, and two island lots, for detached dwellings; 13 backlots for detached
dwellings; four open space blocks; a block for commercial use on Hwy. 118 and a common private road.

He said the policy exemption being sought, in part, “would acknowledge public ownership of the Crown Reserve and shore road allowance, and the right for the public to continue passive recreational use of the shoreline.” The rezoning would be to open space for recreation, and shoreline residential. Further, natural features and
recommended buffers would be used for environmental protection.

Ritee Haider, a planner at Arcadis, said they had heard concerns since 2021 about loss of public land, impact on the
environment, the scale of the development, appropriate servicing and health impacts. She said they had made changes, with more refinement to come. For example, they removed a wellness centre and 60 hotel suites.

She said they are now looking at up to 33 seasonal cottages, with the Crown Reserve and shore road allowance not included. “It’s still accessible to the public …” She said the cottages would be pushed back from the shoreline, have their own septic and wells, and there would be public hiking trails and lake access. She added they would have commercial development and a condo road would be maintained by a condo corporation. She said technical studies found the plan “was environmentally feasible” provided mitigation measures were followed, such as setbacks from wetlands and minimal tree removal. She added they believe the lake has enough capacity and found no significant highway traffic impacts.

“Centre Lake will continue to be used as it is today, whether it be for boating, fishing, kayaking or paddleboarding, That will not change.” She further said they would provide an additional and safer public boat launch and campers would not see the cottages.

“In our opinion, the revised proposal conforms to the relevant planning documents, it supports tourism while
protecting significant natural features on the property, conforms to the County of Haliburton official plan, and meets the intent of the Township of Highlands East’s official plan.”

Deputy mayor Cec Ryall asked, “is there any way to restrict access from those cottages to the lake directly or will they be able to put trails and boats in?”

The proponent said lots would be adjacent to Crown Land, which is open to the public, including cottagers. However, there would be minimal tree removal for trails and no docks.

Ryall responded, “If someone was to go deeper into that 200-foot with development, how are we going to ensure that gets resolved, if not stopped?” A number of people spoke out against the project, and a petition was tabled.

PLCA concerns

Mike Thomas of the Paudash Lake Conservation Association touched on most of the concerns.

“While the new application does not contain the 60-unit condo resort building or the 200 ft. wide Centre Lake Crown
shoreline reserve, we continue to have concerns about the future implications of the development as well as its current impact,” he said.

He suggested Highlands East or the County assume ownership or management of the reserve from the MNRF to maintain public lake access, or support a First Nation doing so.

People are also worried that another developer has applied to purchase the public Crown reserve on the other side of the lake to build 35-40 cottage lots.

The PLCA wants to ensure the public can still camp; they’d like fencing between the private lots and public reserve, with gates to access the shoreline; they feel the proponent is overstating economic benefits; uncertainty over the use of the unopened municipal road allowance; the type of ownership and seasonal use of the cottages is unclear; the impact on municipal infrastructure; radon gas; and the need to monitor lake health.

Neither Highlands East council or the County of Haliburton has made a decision on the file.

Algonquin Highlands council has opted against offering township residents a discount on parks, recreation and trails
user and rental fees for now, though will be approaching Lake of Bays about contributing funds towards the operation of the Dorset Rec Centre.

At an Oct. 2 meeting, parks, recreation and trails manager Chris Card brought forward a recommendation that the township apply a 20 per cent discount to local ratepayers for facility rentals, recreational programming, water trails use, and entry to the Dorset Tower.

He estimated the move would cost the township around $6,800. Factoring in 1.9 per cent inflation, he suggested the township could recoup the money by upping its trails fees 2.3 per cent, canoe rentals 11 per cent for 16-foot boats and 16 per cent for 17-foot boats, Dorset Tower entry by 2.91 per cent, and all recreation programming 8.28 per
cent.

Card said ratepayers accounted for two per cent of all trails sales, which includes rates for camping, equipment rentals and ski passes; five per cent of all visits to the Dorset Tower; five per cent of facility rentals; and 30 per cent of all recreational programming.

Mayor Liz Danielsen said, “I think this is too much for too little,” noting she didn’t support the plan. Deputy mayor Jennifer Dailloux suggested that, since Algonquin Highlands residents had paid for these facilities and services through their property taxes, that they should be given a break. Coun. Sabrina Richards agreed.

Danielsen said she and CAO, Angie Bird, will meet with Lake of Bays administration to see if they’d be willing to contribute to the facility’s running costs.

Danielsen, Barry and coun. Julia Shortreed opted against applying the discount, though talks continued on how the township could cut costs. It was noted Algonquin Highlands manages trail systems in Minden Hills and Lake of Bays, with Richards suggesting those municipalities pay their way.

Card was asked how much events lik the Dorset Snowball cost to run – he said he would bring a report on the event’s revenues and expenses to a future meeting. He will also bring back another suggestion to implement a ratepayer discount for programming at the Dorset Rec Centre only.

Consultants, the Loomex Group, presented a fire master plan to Minden Hills council Sept. 25 with just eight recommendations. It also contains 24 other initiatives.

The first was that fire chief, Don Kruger, work with members to develop a recruitment and retention program designed to recognize volunteer firefighters.

The second was developing a firefighter health and wellness program, including for mental health.

Third, Loomex suggested the fire chief investigate the possibility of developing a training facility in Minden Hills for
practical training. Now, they go to Algonquin Highlands.

Next, it was recommended council provide financial support to the firefighters to maintain their DZ driver’s licences to drive fire department vehicles.

Loomex said Kruger should continue to monitor department response and “focus on whether the fire department needs to increase its staffing levels, particularly during regular business hours, weekends, and holidays.”

It also encouraged council to continue to properly fund the department for upkeep of the new fire hall.

Another recommendation is that Minden Hills should do a water supply study for the non-hydrant-protected area of the community.

“The study should aim to determine whether it is feasible to install dry hydrants in those locations. The study should also identify the best locations for dry hydrants in the township,” the consultant said.

In addition, councillors were told they should continue to use the budgeting process to provide the department with
funding it needs to replace fire apparatus and fire service equipment that has reached its life expectancy.

Coun. Pam Sayne said the report was very informative. She liked the recommendation about licences in particular, noting the cost of a DZ licence is very expensive. She also asked what a dry hydrant is. The consultant said it is a pipe put deep into a body of water so it does not freeze and remains in place to be accessed by pumper trucks.

Coun. Tammy McKelvey queried whether they ask for dry hydrants now for large developments. Kruger said they can ask for cisterns to be installed.

Mayor Bob Carter asked about the need for a training facility.

“Did we consider the fact we have four departments in Haliburton County that have mutual aid plans instead of Minden Hills developing this; that one be developed that is shared.”

Kruger said there is a facility in Algonquin

Highlands used for new recruits. Butfor weekly training, it’s “quite a drive to get there.” It means they cannot respond quickly if there is a call in the community while they are away. He added it would allow them to do more live fire training.

Carter also wanted to know how realistic it was for rural fire departments to do the work suggested in the recommendations and initiatives, such as formalizing handshake agreements about mutual aid. The consultant agreed “the administrative side of it is a nightmare, especially when it’s a one or two person show that’s doing it.”

He added it is not uncommon for Loomex to recommend 30, 40 or 50 things, but Minden Hills’ fire department “is in pretty good shape comparatively … you really need to support that and build it up.”

CAO Cynthia Fletcher asked council to receive the report as information only.

“Every one of these recommendations would almost be mini business cases. If we were to bring them to council, they need to be fleshed out with much more detail.”

She added they may partner with other townships on some recommendations and initiatives and would report back quarterly.

On Oct. 7-8, more than 800 Grade 4-6 students, with their teachers and parent volunteers, gathered at the Kinark Outdoor Centre to take part in the 20th annual Haliburton-Muskoka-Kawartha Children’s Water Festival (HMKCWF).

Students engaged in hands-on fun at 37 activity-based learning stations set up across the site. Elementary schools from across the Trillium Lakelands District School Board and families of local homeschoolers were involved.

HMKCWF coordinator Kara Mitchell said more than 100 volunteers helped children explore the vital connections between water health, ecosystems, and personal and community well-being through motivational experiences.

The festival, a flagship program of the Haliburton-based charity FEEL (Friends of Ecological and Environmental Learning),is organized in partnership with U-Links Centre for Community-Based Research and Kinark. Significant volunteer support came from high school students in the Kawartha Youth Leadership in Sustainability (YLS)
program and Trent University students from the School of the Environment.

This year, 12 community partners including the Turtle Guardians, Kawartha Conservation, the Muskoka Watershed
Council and the Algonquin Highlands Fire Service enriched the programming through hands-on activities. Mitchell said, “students soaked in messages on water conservation, technology, protection and science and came to understand that their attitudes towards water matters and their actions can and will make a difference.”

With a milestone celebrated this year, many of the 90 parent volunteers said they were inspired through their initial
attendance as school children.

Mitchell added through the waterheroes. ca website, students can continue their water stewardship journey. Running until the end of April, students can enter the ‘big splash’ contest by sending in water friendly actions they pledge to do in the year ahead. Donated prizes will be awarded to individuals, classes and schools making inspiring positive impacts on local water systems through their actions.

Mitchell said the festival was possible thanks to support from a diversity of individual donors, local businesses and
service clubs. She added, “FEEL invites local businesses, organizations and individuals to consider donating at any
level to keep our impactful programming flowing.”

The festival will also recognize volunteerswith an event Nov. 1, noon to 3 p.m., at the Highland Hills United Church in Minden.

Mitchell said, “we’ll be acknowledging all supporters, including our groundwater volunteers and donors; those who have been consistent supporters for the past decade.” She said anyone curious about volunteering is welcome to attend.

FEEL says it is committed to advancing public awareness and appreciation of ecosystems through education. HMKCWF is their flagship program. Since the festival began in 2005, more than 16,000 children have benefited.

More information can be found at hmkchildrenswaterfestival@gmail.com, or www.ecoenvirolearn.org, hmkwaterfestival.ca or www.waterheroes.ca